Small Jar Podcast - The Ride to the Empty Nest

Mar 08 2025 145 ep. 25 mins 2

Small Jar Podcast - The Ride to the Empty Nest artwork

The Small Jar Podcast is for moms of teens looking to find confidence and peace as they navigate the rollercoaster of the teen years and new purpose as they look ahead to a meaningful next chapter.

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Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #4 - Illusion of Control | Ep. 145

Mar 08 2025 32 mins

Have you ever found yourself checking your kid, reminding them (again) about their responsibilities, or feeling that tight grip of anxiety when they don’t do what you ask or hope they'll do? If so, you’re not alone. In this episode of the Small Jar Podcast, I dive into one of the biggest mindset traps we face as moms of teens—the illusion of control. For years, we’ve shaped

100 Days Until Graduation....How I'm Approaching This Differently | Ep. 144

Mar 01 2025 31 mins

Two years ago, I recorded an episode about the last 100 days before my oldest son's high school graduation—full of emotion, nostalgia, and the feeling that time was slipping away. Now, I'm here again, counting down the last 100 days with my youngest, but this time, everything feels different. In this episode, I reflect on how much I've grown, how my perspective has shifted, and w

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #3 - Comparison | Ep. 143

Feb 22 2025 26 mins

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through social media, seeing another mom’s perfectly happy family vacation, and feeling that pang of “Why can’t I have that?” Or maybe you’ve heard about another teen’s big achievement and suddenly questioned whether you’ve done enough for your own child? In this episode of The Small Jar Podcast, I dive into the comparison trap�

Redefining Self-Awareness | Ep. 142

Feb 15 2025 28 mins

I used to think self-awareness meant being brutally honest about all the ways I was falling short—until I realized that what I thought was awareness was actually just self-judgment. In this episode, I’m redefining what true self-awareness really looks like and how shifting your perspective can change everything. You’ll learn why self-judgment keeps you stuck, how to recognize

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #2 - All or Nothing Thinking | Ep. 141

Feb 08 2025 31 mins

In this episode of the Small Jar Podcast, I’m diving into the second mindset trap on the road to the empty nest—all-or-nothing thinking. You know the feeling: if your teen misses a curfew, your brain leaps to worst-case scenarios, or if you’re not the 'perfect mom,' you fear you’re failing altogether. But here’s what you might not believe—you’re not falling into

When Life Gets Hard | Ep. 140

Feb 01 2025 27 mins

As moms, we're always trying our best. You pour your heart into your kids. But as they pull away, or as you approach the empty nest, it can feel really hard. In fact, during this transitional time of life, there are many things that can feel really hard. Just looking on the bright side isn't an option. In this episode, I’m sharing a deeply personal story about one of the ha

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Trap #1 - Emotional Rollercoaster | Ep. 139

Jan 25 2025 31 mins

Are you ready to take a closer look at the mindset traps that keep us stuck as moms approaching the empty nest? In this episode of my new series on the mindset traps of the empty nest, I'm tackling Mindset Trap #1, and that is the emotional rollercoaster that so many of us moms find ourselves riding. I’ll share why we often feel like our emotions are completely out of our co

What is a Mindset Trap? | Ep. 138

Jan 18 2025 27 mins

Join me for a Mindset Trap 101. In this episode, I continue Small Jar's new series on Midlife Mindset Traps by exploring what they are, how they form, and how they intertwine with our instincts as humans. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode... First, you'll learn how mindset traps are fueled by subconscious biological responses that are completely normal and natural.

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Intro Part III - Keeping It Simple | Ep. 137

Jan 11 2025 26 mins

Join me as I wrap up the three-part introduction to my new series on Midlife Mindset Taps with a deep dive into the instinct to conserve energy—what I call "keeping it simple." I explore how this instinct has evolutionary roots and helps us create habits, routines, and efficiencies in our lives. But I also explore how this instinct can hold us back when life calls for change

Mindset Traps of the Empty Nest - Intro Part II - Avoiding Pain | Ep. 136

Jan 04 2025 27 mins

Welcome back to Part II of the introduction to this new series on the Small Jar Podcast where I dive into the mindset traps that can hold us back as moms of teens and almost empty nesters. This week focus on our instinct to avoid pain and how this shapes the lens through which we view our role as parents and our kids' moods, behavior and outcomes. This basic instinct is a real